My new Powerhaus 2110 longblock

Very nice, Will. I notice the clutch disc is un sprung. I'm still trying to learn more about this sprung / un sprung thing . What was the logic to go un sprung ? Thanks...

David, I'm of the understanding that unsprung is lighter and stronger. I've also heard it said that sprung clutches are for people who can't drive...

 

Very cool Will! When does it go into the car?

Will, who is assembling the rest of it?  Would Powerhaus have completed the engine for you and dynoed it?  Looks like they put all the best stuff in it. It should stand up to about anything you throw at it.

And you're gonna love, love, LOVE that 2,110.

 

Just ask Frank - he was riding in Pearl with her 2,110, taking lap pictures around Lime Rock Park a month or so ago.

Like I said, Al....I'm still trying to learn. Your comment is of no use.....(didn't want to use the word useless).  I have a sort of an odd combo of parts in my application and I'm now experiencing an annoying clutch chatter when all is hot, taking off from a slight incline.

 

I did start with an un sprung disc in my setup and it chattered so badly right from the get go, I pulled the engine and went from there.

 

If Will can shed some light, I'll listen. Just looking for useful info.

David,

 

Your clutch set-up has always intrigued me. Nobody I talked to (including your guy at "Bully-something" (the name of the company and the guy escape me) was using the HD springs you've got in yours.

 

I've tried a lot of clutches, and I'm still not satisfied. I've got a "copperhead" disc from Blackline (formerly ACE- Art Thraen), but it chatters until it heats up a LOT. 99 times in 100 I'm not standing all over the car, I just want to get out of the subdivision smoothly and with some decorum. The 1/100 dictates something robust that will not slip, and therein is the conundrum.

 

I've been told that even HD clutches with springs are only good to 120 hp or so, and I'm making close to 200 at the crank. Cush-a-locks don't hold for me. I LOVE the spring center, dual wound disc idea you've got- but I worry about shelling little spring parts all around the bellhousing of my transaxle. I'm not looking for more work right now.

 

Anyhow, I think the VW world is ready for a 2-disc clutch, or something similar.

I'm going to start a new thread under Engines / Mechanical and call it Clutch / Ideas /Solutions.

 

I'm busier than a shyt house rat right now with year end install stuff but will get to it soon. I'll put the hardtop on soon and get the car down to Ottawa Clutch ( Bully ) and have them take a test drive.

David, good eyes, it was supposed to be a sprung clutch-disc, whoops! Called the builder and we'll sort it out. It may be that we ultimately decided on a solid disc for the reason Stan pointed out, which is excess horsepower (is there such a thing?)

 

Fcpoco, the assembler, installer and tuner is Jonathon, the young (37) owner of VPA Auto Repair. He's been wrenching on VW's for 20 years and really knows his stuff. His father owns British Sports Cars in San Luis Obispo, the premier MG, Austin Healy, Jaguar...workshop on the Central Coast.

 

Powerhaus would've gladly done a turn-key for me and they do have a dyno but I have all the tin, distributor, etc and since Jonathon already gave me a price to assemble the stuff and install the engine, I decided to stick with the longblock from John. Their turn-key motors that I saw while there were beautifully done.

 

Al, I think the engine will be readied and installed by this weekend or early next week. 

 

Side-note, Kathy and I were out running errands today. We pulled out of a parking lot and my sharp (about the only thing sharp left) eyes saw a familiar curvy-silver shape about a 1/2 mile ahead of us. I chased it about 3 miles until the silver (VS) speedster pulled into it's driveway/home. I pulled into the long driveway which totally freaked-out Kathy but, I was on a mission! Turns out, the driver/owner is Bob, puchased his car 3 years ago and loves it. He had the stock 1600 put in and hasn't had any issues. We chatted a while and now I have a new friend to share the Madness with. These little cars are special, fake or real, they're all magic!

 It sounds like you are happy with him.  I'm sure he will do a real nice job.

 

My clutch story is that the builder spec'd a Kennedy Stage II and solid disc. Besides making my left leg three inches longer, it chattered like crazy.

 

We went to a Stage I and, for good measure, a Kush-Lock. No problems since - easy engagement and I can slip it a little when I want. I think I have only about 110 hp, so the Kush-Lock hooks up cleanly even if I dump it.

 

I was warned about spring clutches, though. It seems that, as with a few other things today, the alloys used in the springs ain't what they used to be and the springs are more prone to failure.

 

When they go, they make a mess right where you don't want one.

 

 

Mitch, you sure your leg grew? I had a clutch like that once and it shortened my left leg, I walked around like those cows on steep side-hills for a couple years, in circles!

I've been running a Kennedy 1,700 pound pressure plate and a spring-center disk and had the opposite problem from Stan:  It chattered like hell when it got good and hot (like on a 90+F day).  Well, come to think of it, it chattered a bit sometimes when cold, too.

 

When I did the transaxle rebuild and after I cleaned and sanded the pressure plate and flywheel surfaces (just to be thorough, you know) I installed a new, Sachs solid-center disk and it's been great ever since.  I'm happy with it.

Wow, I need one of these for my third leg.

I've got Stroud's exact clutch setup and so far, it's all good. It IS weird that there's no very good off-the-shelf choice between the normal sprung clutch disk and these "stage" labeled solid disks. Seems like we need something smooth to go with these 120-160 HP, street-driven engines.